ABSTRACT
Toxocariasis is a soil-transmitted helminthozoonosis due to infection of humans by larvae of Toxocara canis. The disease could produce cognitive and behavioral disturbances especially in children. Meanwhile, in our modern era, the incidence of immunosuppression has been progressively increasing due to increased incidence of malignancy as well as increased use of immunosuppressive agents. The present study aimed at comparing some of the pathological and immunological alterations in the brain of normal and immunosuppressed mice experimentally infected with T. canis. Therefore, 180 Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups including normal (control) group, immunocompetent T. canis-infected group, immunosuppressed group (control), and immunosuppressed infected group. Infected mice were subjected to larval counts in the brain, and the brains from all mice were assessed for histopathological changes, astrogliosis, and IL-5 mRNA expression levels in brain tissues. The results showed that under immunosuppression, there were significant increase in brain larval counts, significant enhancement of reactive gliosis, and significant reduction in IL-5 mRNA expression. All these changes were maximal in the chronic stage of infection. In conclusion, the immunopathological alterations in the brains of infected animals were progressive over time, and were exaggerated under the effect of immunosuppression as did the intensity of cerebral infection.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Mice , Brain/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Gene Expression Profiling , Histocytochemistry , Immunocompromised Host , Immunohistochemistry , Interleukin-5/genetics , Parasite Load , Toxocara canis/immunology , Toxocariasis/immunologyABSTRACT
Toxocariasis is a soil-transmitted helminthozoonosis due to infection of humans by larvae of Toxocara canis. The disease could produce cognitive and behavioral disturbances especially in children. Meanwhile, in our modern era, the incidence of immunosuppression has been progressively increasing due to increased incidence of malignancy as well as increased use of immunosuppressive agents. The present study aimed at comparing some of the pathological and immunological alterations in the brain of normal and immunosuppressed mice experimentally infected with T. canis. Therefore, 180 Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups including normal (control) group, immunocompetent T. canis-infected group, immunosuppressed group (control), and immunosuppressed infected group. Infected mice were subjected to larval counts in the brain, and the brains from all mice were assessed for histopathological changes, astrogliosis, and IL-5 mRNA expression levels in brain tissues. The results showed that under immunosuppression, there were significant increase in brain larval counts, significant enhancement of reactive gliosis, and significant reduction in IL-5 mRNA expression. All these changes were maximal in the chronic stage of infection. In conclusion, the immunopathological alterations in the brains of infected animals were progressive over time, and were exaggerated under the effect of immunosuppression as did the intensity of cerebral infection.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Mice , Brain/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Gene Expression Profiling , Histocytochemistry , Immunocompromised Host , Immunohistochemistry , Interleukin-5/genetics , Parasite Load , Toxocara canis/immunology , Toxocariasis/immunologyABSTRACT
Nuclear factor kappa B/p65 [NF-KB/p65] regulates the expression of various molecules important in tumorigenesis as cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2]. To study the immunohistochemical expression of NF-KB/p65 and COX-2 in NSCLC, investigate the relationship between their expression and the clinicopathological parameters, evaluate their prognostic value and clarify their impact on survival. Fifty NSCLC patients were enrolled in this study and subjected to: full medical history and physical examination, routinelaboratory tests and CT chest. Fiberoptic bronchos-copy was done and biopsies were taken from visible masses and 20 mucosal biopsies of the same patients [as control]; sent for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination using anti-COX2 and anti-NF-KB/p65 antibodies. The median follow up of patients was 13 [range 4-22 months]. Results: Thirty six [72%] showed positive NF-icB/p65 expression, it was higher in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma than in normal biopsies. Adenocarcinoma showed higher NF-KB/ p65 positivity compared to squamous and large cell carcinomas. A significant relationship was found between NF-KB/p65 expression and overall survival. Forty five [90%] showed positive COX-2 expression, no expression was detected in normal biopsies. COX-2 expression was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma compared to squamous and large cell carcinomas. NF-KB/p65 and COX-2 expression was significantly correlated with advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and grade. A significant positive relationship was found between NF-KB/p65 and COX-2 expression. NF-KB/P65 and COX-2 expression has a prognostic value in NSCLC, they are suitable targets for development of new lung cancer therapies; inhibition of NF-KB and COX-2 will augment the efficacy of anticancer therapy